Ragin Merrick

FOR BISHOP 2024

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Reverend Dr. M. Charmaine Ragin Merrick

Greetings,

Allow me to take this opportunity to introduce you to my candidacy as I embark on the journey to become a Bishop. My name is Reverend Dr. M. Charmaine Ragin Merrick. I am here by God’s Amazing Grace!

I have been an active minister for over forty years in the state of South Carolina. I have pastored six (7) churches, and I have been the Presiding Elder of the Newberry District, Columbia Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church (South Carolina).

I obtained a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and a Doctor of Divinity degree from Erskine Theological Seminary. I spent two (2) years of service as Chaplain at Baptist Hospital in Columbia, SC; eleven (11) years of service as Chaplain in the United States Armed Forces; and twenty two (22) years of service as Chaplain and Associate Warden of Programs and Services at the South Carolina Department of Corrections. I am a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) supervisor.

I have been on The Relentless Pursuit of Kingdom Building. My areas of interest are evangelism and discipleship, youth and young adult ministry, community outreach, and stewardship. It is important that we assist persons to work on their spiritual gifts to meet the needs of the community. God calls us to educate and empower the body of believers in financial and economic development, social justice, and environmental needs.

Under my leadership, congregations traveled abroad on several mission trips to Panama and Jamaica. The passion for motivating young people to understand and love mission work is abounding with every opportunity. I have led churches to pay off mortgages and participated in reconstruction of churches. I have also led the church in the acquisition of 90 acres of land, to which a state of the art community park was developed. Community outreach was further developed by providing breakfast daily for indigent and homeless persons; affordable, transitional, and senior housing was managed; and a hotel was purchased to transform into assisted living housing.

I am seeking your support on the journey and your votes at General Conference 2024. I need your prayers and any monetary donations would be greatly appreciated.

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Ragin Merrick

FOR BISHOP 2024

An AME Journey

M. Charmaine Ragin Merrick

Native of Philadelphia, Pennslyvania • Raised in Mt. Vernon, NY

Pastoral Work in South Carolina

Preparation and Training

Baptized at Allen AME Church, White Plains,

New York, Rev. John G. Ragin, Pastor

Served as Youth Choir Director and Sunday

School Youth Superintendent, Allen Temple

AME Church, Mt. Vernon, NY, Rev. Fraizer

Williams, Pastor

Graduate of Mt. Vernon High School,

Mt. Vernon, New York

Graduate of Ricker College, B.A. Business

Administration, B.S. Psychology,

Houlton, Maine

Graduate of Lutheran Theological Southern

Seminary, MDiv, Columbia, SC

Graduate of Erskine Theological Seminary, DMin,

Due West, South Carolina

The Call to Serve

Licensed to Preach - 1982

Turner Memorial AME Church

West Columbia, SC

Rev. James Moody, Pastor

Rev. Clark R. Hawthorne, Presiding Elder

Admitted to Conference - September 1982

Columbia, South Carolina Annual Conference

Bishop Frank M. Reid, Sr., Presiding Bishop

Ordained Itinerant Deacon - September 1984

Columbia, South Carolina Annual Conference

Bishop Frederick Calhoun James, Presiding Bishop

Ordained Itinerant Elder - September 1986

Columbia, South Carolina Annual Conference

Bishop Frederick Calhoun James, Presiding Bishop

Pastoral Appointments

September 1982 - September 1983 Supply Pastor

New St. Phillip AME / Benjamin Chapel Churches

Columbia, South Carolina Annual Conference

Bishopville, South Carolina

September 1983 - September 1985 Pastor

Piney Grove AME Church

Columbia, South Carolina Annual Conference

Gaston, South Carolina

September 1985 - September 1994 Pastor

Mt. Pisgah AME Church

Columbia, South Carolina Annual Conference

Dixiana, South Carolina

Mission Trips

September 1994 - September 2004 Pastor

High Hills AME Church

Columbia, South Carolina Annual Conference

Dalzell, South Carolina

Jamaica

Donated computers, school supplies, and textbooks

Panama (two trips)

Sponsored children’s orphanage (Canaan House), household supplies, new clothes, toys, and bicycles

Liberia, West Africa

Donated ministerial robes

Donated funds for the construction of 2 new churches

September 2004 - September 2009 Pastor

Mt. Pisgah AME Church

Northeast, South Carolina Annual Conference

Sumter, South Carolina

September 2004 - November 2009 Pastor

Mt. Pisgah AME Church

Northeast, South Carolina Annual Conference

Sumter, South Carolina

November 2009 - November 2014 Pastor

Bethel AME Church

Palmetto, South Carolina Annual Conference

Georgetown, South Carolina

November 2014 - April 2024 Presiding Elder

Newberry District

Columbia, South Carolina Annual Conference

Ragin Merrick

April 2024 - Currently Pastor

Jehovah AME Church

Palmetto, South Carolina Annual Conference

Cross, South Carolina

FOR BISHOP 2024

Connectional Church

Delegate to General Conference

1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024

Member of General Board - 2004

Eight Sons and Daughters in Ministry

Ragin Merrick

FOR BISHOP 2024

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